Have you ever finished a Microsoft Word document only to find a stubborn, un-deletable blank page at the end? This is a common frustration caused by hidden formatting marks, errant paragraph returns, or section breaks. Fortunately, getting rid of that extra page is usually a quick fix once you know where to look. Here are the most effective methods to delete a blank page in Microsoft Word.
Method 1: Use the “Show/Hide” Tool (Most Effective)
Often, a blank page is caused by invisible paragraph marks or page breaks that have been pushed to a new page. Revealing these hidden marks is the best way to delete them.
- Go to the Home tab on the Word ribbon.
- In the Paragraph section, click the Show/Hide ¶ icon. (Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows or Cmd + 8 on Mac).
- Scroll down to the blank page. You will now see paragraph marks (¶), page breaks, or section breaks that were previously hidden.
- Highlight any of these marks on the blank page and press Delete or Backspace on your keyboard until they are removed and the page disappears.
Tip: If a paragraph mark at the very end of your document refuses to be deleted (Word requires at least one paragraph mark at the end of a document), highlight that single mark, change its font size to 01, and press Enter. This shrinks the mark so small that it will fit on the previous page, removing the blank page.
Method 2: Use the Navigation Pane
If you prefer a visual approach, the Navigation Pane allows you to quickly locate and delete pages.
- Go to the View tab on the ribbon.
- Check the box next to Navigation Pane to open the sidebar.
- In the left-hand panel, click on the Pages tab.
- Select the thumbnail of the blank page you want to remove.
- Press the Delete or Backspace key on your keyboard until the page is removed.